Short Summary

These are the first motion pictures released publicly which show the computerized... in flight... weapon-firing?

Description

These are the first motion pictures released publicly which show the computerized... in flight... weapon-firing by the new U.S. Army Cheyenne combat helicopter, now being tested by the Lockheed-California Company.

The Army needs the tough and swift Cheyenne to protect troop-carrying helicopters and to provide direct aerial fire support for unloading troops in combat landing zones. Here the Cheyenne flies over Lockheed's rugged Potrero test range in Southern California...

while firing a six-barrel mini gun at a ground target....
as seen through its gun camera. Once more approaching target, the Cheyenne opens fire again.

Its gun camera reveals that only two burst result in over 200 hits or 80 per cent of total rounds fired.

In this flight the Cheyenne is now armed with its interchangeable 40-millimeter grenade launcher, seen firing...

at a ground target.

This is another in its impressive assortment of deadly weapons which include also an automatic belly machine gun...anti-tank missiles... and anti-personnel rockets. Whichever weapon is fired, however, the gunner merely holds on target the on-board computer and avionic system to do rest. One more development challenge has been met and overcome as the pilot pulls the Cheyenne away for yet another test another day. The 250-mile-an-hour Cheyenne, world's most advanced and fastest helicopter gunship, is scheduled to enter Army service in 1970.